No player shall sit out defensively for two (2) consecutive innings. No player shall sit out defensively for a second time, until all other players in attendance have sat out at least one defensive inning. (Variance to rule 3.03)

AA and Above – The Starting Pitcher and/or Catcher are exempt from this rule

Note: Starting Pitcher and/or Catcher is defined as the player that started the game at pitcher or catcher, once they vacate either of those positions, they will no longer be excluded from sitting requirements.

Rookie and Above

Players may be substituted freely; however, no player but the pitcher may be substituted once an inning has started except for illness or injury. (Variance to rule 3.03)

Hybrid and Above

A courtesy runner may be used to run for the pitcher and catcher of record. Runner must be last out recorded (either in current inning or last inning).

All Regular Season Games can end in a tie

Playoff games must have a winner

Time Limits and Run Limits

Division

No New

Inning After

Minimum Innings Required

Run Limit

“Slaughter Rule”

Minimum Innings Apply

4 Year Old T-Ball

1:00

No Minimum

Bat Lineup

5 Year Old Hybrid

1:00

No Minimum

Bat Lineup

6 Year Old Coach

1:00

No Minimum

5 Runs/3 Outs

Rookie

1:15

No Minimum

5 Runs/3 Outs

15 after 3

10 after 4

Hybrid

1:15

No Minimum

5 Runs/3 Outs

Minor

1:45

4, 3 ½ if Home team lead

5 Runs/3 Outs

Major

1:45

4, 3 ½ if Home team lead

None

50/70

1:45

5, 4 ½ if Home team lead

None

15 after 4

10 after 5

Junior

1:50

5, 4 ½ if Home team lead

None

Senior

1:50

5, 4 ½ if Home team lead

None

Non-Instructional Division Specific Rules - Baseball

(Minor Division)

Defense

Each player must play at least one infield position per game.

Instructional Division Specific Rules – Baseball

4 Year Old T-Ball Division

The 4 Yr old Tee Ball Division is considered an instructional division.

Defense

The defense shall field a maximum of twelve (12) players consisting of six (6) infielders and with the remaining players positioned in the outfield. (Variance to rule 1.01)

Each player must play at least one infield position per game. This shall not include the catcher’s position.

All outfield players shall be positioned in the outfield grass.

The pitcher and catcher, if used, must wear a batting helmet when playing defense. The catcher, if used, shall wear a chest protector and a throat guard, but is not required to use a catcher mitt (variance to rule 1.12). The throat guard shall be secured to the batting helmet face shield. The pitcher shall be positioned on the pitching rubber, or in the near vicinity of the pitcher’s mound, and the catcher shall be positioned at the backstop and inline with home plate and the pitcher’s mound (variance to rule 4.03(a) and rule 8.01(f)).

Players may be substituted freely. (Variance to rule 3.03)

Offense

All balls must be hit from a tee; no coach pitching is allowed.

Balls and strikes will not be called in this division. All batters will continue to bat off the tee until the ball is put in play. (Variance to rule 6.05 and 6.08(a))

A batted ball must cross the 10-foot arc around home plate to be a fair ball. The bat must come in contact with the ball to be considered fair.

Runners may advance at their own risk until a defensive player has possession of the ball. The runner may only advance to the base they are going to once a defensive player has possession of the ball.

5 Year Old Hybrid Pitch Division

The 5 Yr old Coach Pitch Division is considered an instructional division.

Defense

The defense shall field a maximum of twelve (12) players consisting of six (6) infielders and with the remaining players positioned in the outfield.

Each player must play at least one infield position per game. This shall not include the catcher’s position.

All outfield players shall be positioned in the outfield grass.

The pitcher and catcher must wear a batting helmet when playing defense. The catcher shall wear a chest protector and a throat guard, but is not required to use a catcher mitt (variance to rule 1.12). The throat guard shall be secured to the batting helmet face shield. The pitcher shall be positioned on the pitching rubber, or in the near vicinity of the pitcher’s mound, and the catcher shall be positioned at the backstop and inline with home plate and the pitcher’s mound (variance to rule 4.03(a) and rule 8.01(f)).

Players may be substituted freely. (Variance to rule 3.03)

Offense

All helmets provided by CLL will have face shield, but wearing a face shielded helmet will not be required.

A combination of coach-pitch and tee will be used in this division. If the batter has not successfully hit the ball after five pitches from the coach, the batter shall complete their turn at bat by hitting from a tee.

Balls and strikes will not be called in this division. All batters will continue to bat until they hit a pitched ball fair or hit a fair ball off the tee. (Variance to rule 6.05 and 6.08(a))

A batted ball must cross the 10-foot arc around home plate to be a fair ball. The bat must come in contact with the ball to be considered fair.

Runners may advance at their own risk until a defensive player has possession of the ball. The runner may only advance to the base they are going once a defensive player has possession of the ball.

Each team’s coach will pitch to their own players

LOCAL LEAGUE GROUND RULES

6 Year Old Coach Pitch Division

The 6 Yr old Coach Pitch Division is considered an instructional division and while the intent is to play by Little League rules, there are exceptions to the rules that are being made below. These exceptions are being made to promote instruction, a safe playing environment, and a positive experience for all.

Defense

The defense shall field a maximum of ten (10) players consisting of six (6) infielders and with the remaining players positioned in the outfield.

Each player must play at least one infield position per game. This shall not include the catcher’s position.

All outfield players shall be positioned in the outfield grass.

The pitcher and catcher must wear a batting helmet when playing defense. The catcher shall wear a chest protector and a throat guard, but is not required to use a catcher mitt (variance to rule 1.12). The throat guard shall be secured to the batting helmet face shield. The pitcher shall be positioned on the pitching rubber, or in the near vicinity of the pitcher’s mound, and the catcher shall be positioned at the backstop and inline with home plate and the pitcher’s mound (variance to rule 4.03(a) and rule 8.01(f)).

Players may be substituted freely. (Variance to rule 3.03)

Offense

A combination of coach-pitch and tee will be used in this division. If the batter has not successfully hit the ball after five pitches from the coach, the batter shall complete their turn at bat by hitting from a tee.

Balls and strikes will not be called in this division. All batters will continue to bat until they hit a pitched ball fair or hit a fair ball off the tee. (Variance to rule 6.05 and 6.08(a))

A batted ball must cross the 10-foot arc around home plate to be a fair ball.

Runners may advance at their own risk until a defensive player has possession of the ball. The runner may only advance to the base they are going once a defensive player has possession of the ball.

Each team’s coach will pitch to their own players

Rookie- Machine Pitch (Ages 7-8)

The Rookie Division is considered an instructional division.

Machine set-up and operation

Speed should be set to 32 mph for the entire season. Setting is 4-3-5

Height should be adjusted prior to the beginning of the game to cross through the middle of the plate and between two and three feet high. The machine may be adjusted at the discretion of the umpire during the progress of the game.

An offensive coach shall operate the pitching machine. All adjustments shall only be made by the umpire during the half inning.

Game

All players must play an infield position before the end of the 3rd inning

Defense

The defense shall field a maximum of ten (10) players consisting of six (6) infielders and four (4) outfielders. (Variance to rule 1.01)

Each player must play at least one infield position per game. Catcher is NOT considered an infield position.

Outfielder must begin the play 15 feet into the grass/outfield.

The pitcher shall be positioned no closer than three (3) feet on either side of the pitching rubber, no further than eight (8) feet from the pitching rubber, and shall be even with or no more than five (5) feet behind (towards outfield) the line between first base and third base.

The pitcher cannot move forward of the pitching machine until the pitch is delivered.

There is no infield fly rule in this division. (Variance to rule 6.05)

Offense

All helmets provided by CLL will have face shield, but wearing a face shielded helmet will not be required.

There will be no “slash” bunts (batter shows bunt then pulls back and swings at the ball)

Batters will be allowed five pitches or three swinging strikes. The batter will be called out on the 3rd swinging strike or on the 5th pitch, if not fouled off. The batter is allowed unlimited foul balls on the last pitch. (Variance to rule 6.05(b))

Batters will not be walked. (Variance to rule 6.08(a))

A batted ball that hits the pitching machine, ball bucket is considered dead, batter and runners advance one base. A thrown ball that hits the machine is considered dead and batters/runners are awarded the base they are going to.

Runners may advance according to the following: (Variance to rule 7.0)

No advancement on overthrows

When ball is hit into the outfield, all runner(s) may advance at their own risk until the ball is fielded by a defensive infielder within the infield. An outfielder who fields a batted ball within the infield is not to be considered an infielder. The outfield is defined as the grass portion of the outfield.

When the ball is hit in the infield: all runner(s) may advance no more than one base at their own risk.

Managers / Coaches

2 coaches, 1 manager and 1 Machine operator are permitted within the playing area. Only two may be on the field and one must remain in the dugout at all times. Machine Pitch operator cannot coach runners.

There will be no appeals to umpire rulings.

Hybrid Machine & Kid/Coach Pitch II (9 Year Olds)

The Hybrid Division is considered an instructional division

Game

The first 3 innings will be played with the pitching machine set to 38 mph. Setting 3-4-8

After the 3rd inning the game becomes kid pitch unless four balls are thrown to a batter. At that point the offensive coach pitches while maintaining current strike count until three strikes or until the batter becomes a batter-runner.

The coach has a maximum of 5 pitches, unless the last pitch is fouled off, batter will be called out. The batter is allowed unlimited foul balls on the last pitch.

The coach pitcher will be allowed to pitch from the vicinity of the mound – to include kneeling on the pitching mound or standing behind/front of the circle of the pitching mound. (Variance to rule 6.05(b))

Defense

The defense shall field a maximum of nine (9) players consisting of six (6) infielders and four (3) outfielders. (Variance to rule 1.01)

Each player must play at least one infield position per game before the end of the 3rd Inning. Catcher is NOT considered an infield position.

Outfielder must begin the play 15 feet into the grass/outfield.

The pitcher shall be positioned no closer than three (3) feet on either side of the pitching rubber, no further than eight (8) feet from the pitching rubber, and shall be even with or no more than five (5) feet behind (towards outfield) the line between first base and third base.

In the Kid/Coach Pitch portion of the game, players can only pitch in one inning per game (1 thrown pitch constitutes an inning. Pitchers cannot pitch in consecutive games. For example: A manager brings a pitcher in with 2 outs. Once he/she delivers 1 pitch, his/her “inning” is taken. He/she cannot return to pitcher the following inning.)

Pitchers will be fed baseballs by the Offensive Coach.

Offense

All helmets provided by CLL will have face shield, but wearing a face shielded helmet will not be required.

There will be no “slash” bunts (batter shows bunt then pulls back and swings at the ball).

Batter will be called out, no warnings.

Batters will not be walked (Variance to rule 6.08(a)).

During the machine pitch portion of the game - batters will be allowed 5 pitches or three swinging strikes. The batter will be called out on the 3rd swinging strike or on the 5th pitch, if not fouled off. The batter is allowed unlimited foul balls on the last pitch. (Variance to rule 6.05(b))

A batted ball that hits the pitching machine, ball bucket is considered dead, batter and runners advance one base. A thrown ball that hits the machine is considered dead and batters/runners are awarded the base they are going to.

During the kid pitch portion of the game - after four balls are thrown to a batter the offensive coach pitches while maintaining current strike count until three strikes or until the batter becomes a batter-runner. The coach has a maximum of 5 pitches, unless the last pitch is fouled off, batter will be called out. The batter is allowed unlimited foul balls on the last pitch. The coach pitcher will be allowed to pitch from the vicinity of the mound – to include kneeling on the pitching mound or standing behind/front of the pitching mound. (Variance to rule 6.05(b))

A thrown ball that hits the offensive coach working the machine is considered a live ball and play continues (in accordance with rule 5.08).

HBP – only advance on kid pitch.

There is no infield fly rule

Runners may advance according to the following: (Variance to rule 7.0)

When a batter puts the ball into play all runner(s) may advance at their own risk until the ball is fielded by an infielder within the vicinity of the pitcher’s mound.

Stealing is not permitted.

Advancement of only one base on overthrows and no additional bases can be taken on subsequent overthrows.

Managers / Coaches

2 coaches, 1 manager and 1 machine operator are permitted within the playing area. Only 2 may be on the field and one must remain in the dugout at all times. Machine Pitch operator cannot coach runners.

Kid pitch only – no coach shall be positioned in the infield during play.